Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-08-03
RUSSIAN COURTSHIP.
low the beautiful Siayonio Girls are
WOoed and Won

n readers that the young men and
4aidens Of my country are in no wise
Enerent from those OF other and more
Hvored climes. They are, perhaps, a
tile more demonstrative, less given to
Rnceallng the feelings of The heart.
nd less inclined TO regard money as a
Necessary consideration in the settle
pent of heart affairs. When a Russian
rl loves, it is with her whole heart;
4r love surmounts all obstacles.
peak from experience.
1t Is the custom of the Russian Young
plks to meet together by appointment
q the long, stormy winter evenings,
$iecting the house OF each one in turn.
Boys and girls come gayly dressed in
Holiday attire. the latter carryi ing their
foms and linen thread, which they are
IMPOSED to convert into the much
hized linen. These pretty young
A.sses pass the hours in idle gossip
until the time approaches for the ar
wal of the sterner sex, when each one
Yes to her loom and begins to work
most earnestly, by which means they
Fek 10 impress on the minds of their
Rvers their capabilities for becoming
bod wives and houseSeepers; but this
Rigned industry does not last long, for
When the male members have entered
the work is suspended. and pleasure
oegins by the young men inviting their
alr friends to join them in forming a
Circle. This done, they all join in
singing. after which one OF the girls
<-iectS her young gentleman (moI miloI)
NY love, as she calls him, and leads
I'm in the middle OF the circle, then
salks back and forth chanting a love
eng, in which the rest of the guests
DIN. In the song usually selected she
tfils OF the beauty OF the lover she has
chosen, how much she loves him, how
die would leave home and parents,
Uothers, sisters and friends, and follow
nin the wide world over. as the song
rams she would follow him across the
seven oceans, or over seven high noun
tains, and rest under their shadow,
where she could enjoy her happiness
lIndiSturbed.
So in turn each girl selects mol mlloi
and leads him into the circle, when the
same love chanting Is repeated until
AL the girls have made their choice.
Next in turn come tie young men,
who each select partner and go
through ths same performance, the
whole affair terminating with dancing
At the conclusion OF this dance each
foung peasant escorts the object of his
choice to her home. At these gather
inGs they are rs free as birds of the air,
and take for their mate whomsOeyer
they Will, without any regard to a third
party. When the time arrives when a
formal declaration IS made, the youth,
accompanied by some member or men,
iers OF his family WHO are supposed to
"a materially Ia obtaining the parents
consent, proceeds to the home of his
SsIg love and there makes known his
Slsliss 20 the father and daughter.
The mother. not 1T all surprised.
usually reads the young man "A long
lecture on the duties and burdens of
married life, bewailiny all TIE Ills and
speaking of few of the blessings, and
ends by declaring her daughter too
young TO marry yet, too young TO be
given over TO the cruel tyranny OF an
axacting husband. She prefers to see
her as free and happy as the birds of
her native woods. All this IS but a
custom which must De observed, so
fearful are they that the young man
might suppose his bride too easily won.
The suitor, further TO concillate the
| mother, now begins 10 lavish all kinds
| of presents on her, according to his
| means, at the same time telling heI
how much he loves her daughter and
how happy he will make her darling.
y glowing description of how bright
he will make her future life follows.
! To his vivid Imagination everything Is
| rainbow-hued, and in 4 language sc
| pOetical as the russian 1t Is grand and
Impressive TO hear this sultor for the
| daughters hand pour forth his torrent
| of eloquent words
The mother listens attentively to the
| burning, soul-stlrring language, ap
parently weighing in deep thought all
| he says, looking occasionally at the
| presents presented to her, which.
much fear. are the keys which UNLOCK
| the door of her heart She finally give:
a rather unwilling assent, with the
| pTovIso II the father IS willing. Thu:
/ is needless precaution on her part
| tor, as a rule, the father is only too
/ willing 10 ease himself Of The burden o.
K daughters support
But you will naturally ask where th'
poor victim is all this time. Why, il
the next room OF course, where every
word uttered by her lover falls lik
| sweet music on her ears. She under
stands her mothers tactics, and yet Il
must be with trembling heart that sh
awaits the sealing of her fate. Al
| preliminarie5 arranged between mothe
and lover, the daughter is called int
the room to receive the parental bleS
sing, instead OF which she kneelS to he
mother, praying not to be taken froI
her. She describes the beauties of he
virgin life and declares she has n
wish to change it, prefers ner freedom
to all else, and begs that her mothe
will not make for her the hated ret
pettIcoat, which constitutes the prlncl
pal portion of the wardrobe of ever
peasant bride. The daughter pleads
the mother caresse5 and seeks to pc
suade her to accept the lover to whcI
but short time before she refused
give her. The mother, while gent
stToking the glossy hair OF her chilC
tries to persuade her that after all
virgin life IS not the most desirabl,
that God has placed her III this worl
with q mission which she must seek !
fulfill; that she cannot always renal
, at her mothers side; she must go OIL
. from the parental roof and make
home for herself. All tkesS things an
many more are said in vindication
, the life apparently forced upon he
The mother concludes by repeating
the daughter all the lover has told IA
of his bright hopes for the future, al
I the sacrifices he is willing to make f
, her happiness. The daughter final
D yields under such persuasive word
| and who would not unless it were
! | heart of adam2ntp
The young people then kneel to I
: ceive the parental blessing, which
n given with great deal of ceremon
a Then the priest is called upon to /
5 stow his blessing, which Is very bea
5 tiful and impressive. At Its ccncl
Y sion he places a ring on the hand
: each. This ceremony is called @
3 seechiny and is considered even mo
r sacred than marriage itself. The pi
: ents Of the engaged girl arrange 10
, tables, on which they place the SAL